The Hobbit (1937)

Bilbo's route from his comfortable front door to the Lonely Mountain moves through places that demand different kinds of judgement: mountain tunnels, a hostile forest, a river town. Food, shelter and the company's uneven morale keep the distance tangible. Tolkien's maps add the pleasure of following the route and anticipating its next obstacle. A complete adventure for readers who want a large world encountered through one reluctant traveller.